Car Scandal: President Jonathan's Panel Finds Stella Oduah Guilty

The committee set up by President Goodluck Jonathan to probe the N255m

bulletproof car scandal in the aviation ministry has indicted the

Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah.

It was gathered in Abuja on Sunday that the report of the presidential

committee tallied with some findings of the House of Representatives

Committee on Aviation on the scandal.

In October, there were reports that with the approval of the minister,

the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority purchased two bulletproof BMW

cars at an allegedly inflated rate of N255m.

The development sparked a countrywide controversy with many Nigerians

and groups calling for her sacking.

The House subsequently mandated its Committee on Aviation to probe the

allegation against the minister.

On December 19, 2013, the House endorsed the report of its committee

and agreed that the minister breached the 2013 Appropriation Act.

It therefore asked Jonathan to review Oduah's appointment for

approving expenditure of over N643m for the NCAA to procure 54

vehicles last year.

The spokesperson for the House, Mr. Zackary Mohammed, had explained

that the lawmakers wanted the minister sacked.

He said, "The word 'review' here means a change in status. It is a

mild way of saying that Mr. President should sack the minister."

A major recommendation of the Aviation committee, which was adopted,

reads, "The House urges the President to review the continued

engagement of the Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah, for having

contravened the Appropriation Act, 2013 and the approved, revised

thresholds by exceeding the Ministry of Aviation's approval limit of

N100m by the purchase of 54 vehicles valued at N643m."

Although Jonathan confirmed the receipt of the report of the

presidential committee chaired by a former Head of Service of the

Federation, Alhaji Sali Bello, he had yet to make a pronouncement on

it.

Other members of the presidential panel included the National Security

Adviser, Col Sambo Dasuki and Vice-Marshal Dick Iruenabhere.

It was learnt on Sunday that the panel, like that of the House, also

discovered that the minister's approval for the cars exceeded the

N100m limit.

A top government source, who disclosed this to The PUNCH on Sunday,

said although the committee indicted Oduah , it did not say whether

she should be sacked or not



PUNCH